The Chicago Bears closed out their 2025 regular season with a thud on Sunday, falling 19-16 to the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Despite the loss, the Bears (11-6) managed to secure the NFC No. 2 seed thanks to an Eagles loss elsewhere, but the “Halas Intrigue” podcast crew—Patrick Finley and Jason Lieser—noted a palpable sense of annoyance surrounding the team’s momentum.

A Tale of Two Halves

The Bears’ offense was dormant for three quarters, trailing 16-0 as Detroit’s defense stifled the run and pressured Caleb Williams. However, Williams showcased the “clutch” gene that has defined his rookie-to-sophomore jump, engineering two massive fourth-quarter touchdown drives.

  Record Breaker

During the rally, Williams threw a 25-yard touchdown to Jahdae Walker, officially breaking Erik Kramer’s 1995 franchise record for single-season passing yards. He finished the season with 3,942 yards.

The Comeback

A 1-yard strike to Colston Loveland and a successful two-point conversion to Cole Kmet tied the game at 16-16 with just over five minutes remaining.

Late-Game Heartbreak

The defensive effort ultimately fell short when Jared Goff led a surgical final drive, punctuated by a 26-yard pass to Amon-Ra St. Brown. Lions kicker Jake Bates nailed a 42-yard walk-off field goal as time expired, sending Chicago into the postseason on a two-game losing streak.

Looking Ahead: The Rivalry Returns

The focus now shifts immediately to Super Wild Card Weekend. The Bears are set to host their oldest rivals, the Green Bay Packers (9-7-1), this Saturday at 7:00 PM CT. Having split the season series—including a dramatic overtime win in December—the stakes couldn’t be higher for a Chicago team looking to prove they are more than just “regular season champions.”